Window clip



FIG. 1

i 1966 D. G. HlLLlER 3,253,704

WINDOW CLIP Filed Aug. 24, 1964 INV EN TOR DONALD G. HlLLlER United States Patent 3,253,704 WINDOW CLIP Donald G. Hillier, 1812 Omohundro Ave., Norfolk, Va. Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,548 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present application relates to a storm window assembly in particular, to a spring clip which is used to hold the window sash in place within the assembly during shipment.

Storm windows with slidable sashes have long been in common use. Thus, the problem of insuring that the window sashes will not fall out of their frames and break during shipment is one of long standing. The desirability of being able to easily remove the sashes from their Window frames has resulted in the use of guides or lugs attached to the upper end of the sash and pivot'edly mounted within channels which extend lengthwise along the window frames. Such an arrangement increases the vulnerability of the window sections or sashes to breakage during transportation since, no part of the sash itself is enclosed by the aforementioned channel of the window frame. In most cases, the window sash can be moved laterally with respect to the frame merely by pressing ones hand against the window sash. Thus, the problem of preventing the window sashes from vibrating and cansing the window section to break during shipment has become even more acute as this art has become advanced.

Conventionally, window frames with enclosed sashes are packed for shipment by inserting cardboard inserts between sash and pane, then steel handing the entire frame and sash. This packing is expensive, cumbersome and damaging because the encircling bands scratch adjacent frames.

The present invention consists of a clip that is inserted between the window sash cannot move laterally with respect to the frame. The clip is provided with ends that are offset from the middle or main portion of the body of the clip. When one end of the clip is inserted in the top member of the window sash and the other end is placed in its appropriate position in an adjacent frame channel the main body of the clip, being resilient, forces the window sash tightly against the front surface of the window frame channel, and clips together the sash. As a result no vibration between the parts will occur and the window frame is held against stretching. As a result, the clip is an assistance in packing, shipment and installation of the window frame on the construction job.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storm window assembly with means for preventing the window section of its sash from becoming broken during shipment.

Another object is to prevent the Window section of a storm window assembly from being broken during shipment with the use of a flexible clip.

Yet, additional objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached draw ing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the top half of a typical storm window assembly with two clips inserted in their proper place between the window sash and its frame;

FIG. 2 is atop plan of the window clip;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the window clip;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the window clip;

3,253,704 Patented May 31, 1966 ice FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified clip having a bent back portion 56, enabling engagement of both sides of a window channel; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a window frame, showing the FIG. 7 clip ends 48 and 56 engaged opposite sides of channel 23.

The storm window assembly as here disclosed comprises side rails 16 and 18, and top rail 20, each of the rails being formed with three channels 26, 23, and 25. Channel 21 has a front surface 22, and a rear surface 24, and a side surface 26. This is important as will be discussed later in detail, since the middle portion 40 of clip 14 bears directly upon front surface 22, while FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the window clip properly inserted between the window sash and the window frame channel;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

fingers 48 engage the adjacent window channel 23. The window frame side rails 16 and 18 and top rail 20, together with the bottom rail (not shown) may conveniently be formed from aluminum extrusions, the channels being produced by an suitable machining operation. Any suitable means may be used to fasten the rails together. I

The sash 12 is composed of side frame members 28 and 30 and top frame member 32 which together with the bottom frame member (not sh0wn)-carry a central panel 34 which usually comprises a pane of glass. At both ends of the top of frame member 32 are located guide member lugs 36 which engage groove 27 and allow the sash 12 to move up and down along channel 26 of window frame 20. Located on the top of frame member 32 of sash 12 is a groove 38 which runs the entire length thereof which encloses the base 37 of guides 36, and also serves as a seat for end portion 46 of clip 14.

Window clip 14, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 through 4, consists of a middle portion 40, bent upon axis 52, shoulder extending portions 42 and offset sloping portion 44 and 46, with respective fingers 48 and 50.

In one construction offset portion 46 was A" Wide, whereas oifset portion 44 was /8" wide. The dilferent sizes of these offset portions enables clip 14 to.be used either left-handed or right-handed in securing the window. Thus, there is eliminated the necessity for different right and left hand clips as in conventional installations. Clip 14 may be made of cold rolled or spring steel.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, clip 14 is inserted between top frame member 32 and side rail 18 in such a manner that portion 46 and fingers 50 at one end rest within groove 38. When clip 14 is so installed between top frame member 32 and side rail 18, the middle portion 40 is caused to bend somewhat, which in turn causes pressure to be exerted on frame member 32. This pressure being exerted on frame member 32 is kept constant since the right side of middle portion 40 (as can be seen in FIG. 5) abuts and is over channel 26 of front surface 22, with portion 44 extending into adjacent channel 23 and being secured therein by fingers 48. This securement insures that the sash will be held rigidly in contact with the window frame and, also, keeps the window frame side rails 16 and 18 from spreading apart. Spreading of rails 16 and 18 in aluminum frames is quite a problem since a frame four feet high might spread 4 inches on either side, resulting in the window sash dropping out and breaking.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, clip 14 is constructed similarly to clip 14 except that instead of a cut-out adjacent ofiset portion 44; there is provided a continuance portion 54 with a bent back portion 56. As illustrated in FIG. 8, bent back portion 56 engages bead 60 on one side of channel 23, while fingers 48 engage bead 58 on the other side of channel 23.

Manifestly, interchange of parts and reconfiguration thereof may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the sub-joined claims.

I claim: v.

1. The combination with a window frame having side railsthe walls of which define adjacent channels having front, rear and side surfaces extending lengthwise thereof and a window sash mounted within a first channel of said frame for movement lengthwise of said rails and having a top member defining a groove extending lengthwise thereof, of a clip for preventing lateral movement between said window frame and said sash during; shipment, said clip comprising: 7

(A) a middle portion one side of which liesin abutting relation with the side of a second one of said channels of said window frame, and

(B) a first end portion offset from one side of saidmiddle portion and located in said groove of said top member of said window sash, and

(C) a second end portion offset from the opposite sideof said middle portion, abutting the side of said second one of said channels and being secured within said second one of said channels.

2. The combination as in claim 1, wherein both said first and second end portions include inwardly extending fingers,

(i) said first end portion fingers abutting with the front surface of said window sash groove, and,

(ii) said second end portion fingers abutting and being secured within the front surface of said second one of said channels.

3. The combination as in claim 2 wherein said first end portion and second end portion fingers are bifurcated.

4. The combination as in claim 3, wherein said clip body portion fingers engage respectively said window sash groove and said window frame channel.

5. The combination as in claim 3, wherein said second end portion is wider than said first end portion.

6. The combination as in claim 3, said second end portion including a bent back portion engaging the rear surface of said second one of said channels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1964 Malaehowski et a1. 2055 5/1965 Maertig 52509 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A WINDOW FRAME HAVING SIDE RAILS THE WALLS OF WHICH DEFINE ADJACENT CHANNELS HAVING FRONT, REAR AND SIDE SURFACES EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THEREOF AND A WINDOW SASH MOUNTED WITHIN A FIRST CHANNEL OF SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF SAID RAILS AND HAVING A TOP MEMBER DEFINING A GROOVE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THEREOF, OF A CLIP FOR PREVENTING LATERAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WINDOW FRAME AND SAID SASH DURING SHIPMENT, SAID CLIP COMPRISING: (A) A MIDDLE PORTION ONE SIDE OF WHICH LIES IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE SIDE OF A SECOND ONE OF SAID CHANNELS OF SAID WINDOW FRAME, AND (B) A FIRST END PORTION OFFSET FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID MIDDLE PORTION AND LOCATED IN SAID GROOVE OF SAID TOP MEMBER OF SAID WINDOW SASH, AND (C) A SECOND END PORTION OFFSET FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID MIDDLE PORTION, ABUTTING THE SIDE OF SAID SECOND ONE OF SAID CHANNELS AND BEING SECURED WITHIN SAID SECOND ONE OF SAID CHANNNELS. 